Gordon Bell High School’s field of dreams is getting some financial support from students across the city to help reach the project’s fundraising goal.

On Nov. 24, Menno Simons College Students' Association held a benefit concert to raise funds for the project.

Meanwhile, Grade 8 students at St. John’s Ravenscourt’s have promised that proceeds from their annual poinsettia fundraising sale will be donated to the greenspace initiative.

Gordon Bell students are continuing to do their part as well, pitching in with whatever support they can.

"One kid comes in every Friday and gives his pocket change to the jar in our office," said principal Arlenne Skull. "It really adds up and even more, inspires others to do the same."

Skull said the students’ efforts are just part of the ongoing support for the field project.

Several alumni and local foundations have committed financial support including: $15,000 from the Pollard Family Foundation; $50,000 from the Richardson Family Foundation; and $10,000 from alumnus Rick Waugh, president of the Bank of Nova Scotia.

The school has raised more than $80,000 from staff and students, Skull said.

It’s enough money to pay for the first phase of the plan, which includes sod and an outdoor field.

But the school still needs an additional $400,000 to complete the second stage of the plan, which includes installing artificial turf, a durable alternative to sod that will allow for a drainage system to keep the field useable throughout the year, including during the spring, Skull said.

The triangular piece of land adjacent to the school on Portage Avenue was once home to a car dealership.  
Canada Post originally planned to build a mail processing plant on the site. However, the province eventually bowed to public demands to develop the site as an athletic facility for the school following a series of public rallies.

The province purchased the site for $5.3 million and contributed an additional $1 million, most of which was used to pay for an environmental cleanup of the property.

Menno Simons officials said they recognized the importance of the greenspace to the downtown community, which is why they chose to support the initiative.

"It’s more than just that drop in the bucket, it’s about being engaged with your community and spreading awareness about greenspace and public space," said James Janzen, the college’s facilitator.

Menno Simons students already had a connection with the high school. Conflict resolution students from the college have worked at Gordon Bell in the past as part of their studies.

Being based at the University of Winnipeg just a few blocks strengthened those connections, Janzen said.
"We share the same space of downtown, the same community," he said.

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